UCLA NOTEBOOK: THIRD PLACE, MAYBE MORE, IS AT STAKE.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

STANFORD - Not even UCLA coach Ben Howland could categorize this as just another game. And he couldn't call the Bruins' game today at Stanford their most important, as he usually does, solely because it is the next game.

The winner will own third place in the Pacific-10 Conference race and take a huge step toward an NCAA Tournament berth.

``It obviously would be a huge win for us,'' Howland said. ``It's just a huge game. It's a huge game for both teams, and I think both teams are aware of that. I mean, basically, it's coming down to who will have the leg up on third place in our league.''

A win by Stanford (14-9, 8-5 Pac-10) would give the Cardinal a season sweep in the series - and perhaps an edge in the selection process. UCLA (14-8, 8-6) wants another road win and to keep its all-important RPI under 40. After Thursday's victory at Cal, UCLA is 5-3 on the road in conference play.

``We're not satisfied with getting a split up here,'' UCLA power forward Dijon Thompson said. ``We have every intention of going out and getting a sweep.''

Arizona and Washington appear to have locked up NCAA Tournament bids, but UCLA, Stanford and Arizona State could be fighting for two more at-large bids from the conference.

UCLA won both games against Arizona State, and the Cardinal lost both games to the Sun Devils. Stanford beat UCLA 75-64 last month in Los Angeles.

``I just know if we take care of business, good things will happen for us,'' Howland said. ``I really believe this league, the Pac-10, has a good shot to get four teams in. But that being said, there could be someone who upsets and takes the Pac-10 Tournament that's not in the top four teams that finish. Anything can happen.''

--Missing Grunfeld? Dan Grunfeld, Stanford's leading scorer, is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee Feb. 12. Little-used Fred Washington filled in against USC, and in a big way. Washington, who was averaging 2.3 points per game, scored 22.

``I thought it really was a point of them banding together, coming closer together in their first outing without (Grunfeld),'' Howland said. ``This is a very good team. I think, in the long haul, it might be a little tougher for him because Grunfeld was the third-leading scorer in the league, and he's a great player.

``Anybody loses one of their top players, it's always going to be tough, especially this late in the season. But, overall, this is going to be a very difficult team to beat for anybody down the stretch.''

--Also: Bruins freshman center Lorenzo Mata, who sat out Thursday's win at Cal with a bruised sternum, practiced Saturday and is available. ... Thompson scored at least 23 points in five of his past six games and is averaging 23.7 points in that span. ... Thompson began the season outside the top 45 on UCLA's career scoring list, but he has climbed to 27th with 1,335 points.

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

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- Brian Dohn